For most Americans, December is usually a time when the normal routine of life slows down a little bit and people reconnect with friends and loved ones. It is a time for sitting in traffic, feeding Wall Street, and loosening up dietary restrictions. Musicians, however, view the holidays as a time to work. While I …Read more…

By Katherine Brown Before taking the stage for an hour-long dance performance, Oakland native Antoine Hunter launches into his usual preparation routine. He runs through some stretches, reviews the choreography with his dance company, makes sure the music is tight and arranged correctly, and then adjusts his hearing-aid. “Without the hearing aid, I can’t hear …Read more…